Tractor-mounted scoop control



Dec. 21, 1948. E. H. LACE'Y TRACTOR MOUNTED SCOOP CONTROL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 18, 1947 E. H. LACEY 2,457,049

TRACTOR MOUNTED SCOOP CONTROL Dec, 21, 394%.

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Irwentof Edward H. Lacey Dec. 21, 1948. E. H. LACEY 2,457,049

TRACTOR MOUNTED scooP couwnox,

Filed April 18, 1947 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 6.

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a h ll Inventor 37 45 EdwardH. Lacey Patented Dec. 21, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRACTOR-MOUNTED SCOOP CONTROL Edward H. Lacey, Sioux FallsjS. Dak.

Application April 18, 1947, Serial No. 742,334

This invention relates to improvements inleveling, latching and tripping devices for scoops and analogous devices.

An object of the invention isto provide an improved leveling, latching and tripping device for tractor operated scoops and analogous devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved scoop attachment for tractors which will include means controllable by the driver of the tractor for leveling, latching and tripping the scoop.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved scoop attachment for tractors which will be provided with manually controlled means for leveling the scoop as it is elevated, and means for latching or tripping the same when desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism for leveling, latching and tripping a scoop or analogous device when attached to and driven by a tractor, said mechanism being highly efficient in operation, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture and produce.

Other objects will appear as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tractor with the improved scoop leveling, latching and tripping mechanism shown supported thereon;

Figure 2 is a plan view of a tractor with the improved scoop leveling, latching and tripping mechanism shown supported thereon;

Figure 3 is a view taken on the line 3-8 of Figure 4;

Figure 4 is an edge view of the rack or leveling drum and pully associated therewith;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectionalview taken through the resiliently tensioned cable take-up mechanism and housing therefor;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the pivoted control rod guide and associated latch trip control lever shown in disengaged or released position;

Figure 7 is a front elevation of the connecting,

shaft with the control rod guide on one end thereof, a centrally disposed tensioning springsupporting finger, and the scoop latch arm-at'the opposite end of said connecting shaft;

Figure 8 is a view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 2, and

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the cable guiding pulleys with supporting side frame arm shown in section.

Like characters of reference are used throughout the following specification and the accom- 6 Claims. (01. 214-140) 'panylng drawings to designate corresponding parts.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided a tractor generally denoted .by the reference numeral I having spaced side frame members 2, a rear axle housing 3, rear wheels 4, front wheels 5, a seat 6, a steering wheel 1 and a power jack or take-off mechanism 8 connected with and operated by the differential gearing (not shown) in said rear axle housing or differential hous ing 3.

Side plates 9 are secured by means of the bolts ID to the outer surfaces of the side frame members 2 and support the bearings II in which the shaft I2 is mounted transversely of the tractor and its frame. F

A pair of parallel extending oppositely disposed scoop supporting bell crank arms l3 are pivotally supported upon the outer ends of the transverse shaft l2, being held thereon by means of the keys M. The rear ends of the arms I3 are reinforced by the webs l5 and extend downwardly, being connected by the links it; and interconnected link operating arms I! with the jack or power take-off mechanism 8 connected with and operated by the tractor operating gearing from the tractor engine (not shown).

The forward ends of the scoop supporting arms l3 are off-set as at l8, and terminate in the forwardly extending portions l9.

A pair of inwardly extending hinge pins 20 are disposed through the forwardly extending portions ll! of the arms l3, and pivotally support the scoop 2| which consists of a U-shaped frame having a plurality of spaced forwardly extending sharpened arms or tines supported thereby. An upwardly and rearwardly extending scoop catch or locking arm 22 is secured at the center of the U-shaped scoop frame, and is reinforced by the brace arms 23 connected thereto. A plurality of openings 24 are formed through the arm 22 for adjusting the angle of the scoop 2i as desired.

A cross brace or bar 25 is connected between the scoop supporting arms I3 adjacent their offset portions, and support the spaced bearings 26 and 21 in which the connecting shaft 28 is rotatably mounted. An upwardly extendin latch finger 29 is secured to the inner end of the shaft 28 and is adapted to engage and latch over the catch 30 .on the upper end of the lOckiI'lg arm 22. A centrally'disposed upwardly extending finger 3| is secured to the shaft 28 and is connected to the rear end of a coil tensioning spring 32, whose forward end is attached to the cross brace or bar 25 to resiliently urge and hold the latch finger secured to the'outer end of the connecting shaft 28 and is formed with a U-shaped yoke 34 in its upper end, having a transversely extending tooth or lug 35 in the base thereof, and is adapted to support the forward end of a slidable latch trip control lever 36. The rear end of the lever 36 is angled laterally and is apertured to receive catch 30 after the scoop 2| has been dumped and the cable is being moved counter-clockwise over the pulleys 38 and 46.

A control lever 62 will be pivoted on the pin 63 on the side plate, andwill be formed with a locking dog 64 adapted to be received in any one I of the locking notches 4| onthe leveling drum the lower reach of the scoop leveling, latching and tripping cable 31, later to be described. A pulley or sheath 38 willbe disposed on one of the hinge pins 20 between the forwardly extending portion I9 of one of the scoop. supporting arms I3, being Welded or otherwise secured and fixed to the adjacent sideof the scoop frame;

The scoop leveling drum" 39 will be rotatably mounted upon the shaft I2 and will include the pulley 40 secured thereto, said drum being formed with a purality of spaced peripherally disposed locking notches 4|. 7

The scoop leveling, latchingandtripping cable 31 will extend about the leveling drum 39 and associated pulley 40, being secured theifio by;

means of the clamp 4|. A lug 42 will be disposed in the groove of the pulley 40 to accelerate the trip, later to be described.

The upper reach of the cable 31 will include a turnbuckle 43 for use in tightening the cable cured to the side arm I3 by means of the bolts The cable 31 will be secured to the forward pulley 38 by means of the cable clamp 31'. The take-up machanism for the cable 31 is located in the lower reach thereof, and comprises a tubular housing 48 which is internally threaded at its opposite ends as at 49 and 50 to receive the threaded centrally apertured cap closure members 5| and 52. One end of the cable 31 is extended through the closure member 52, and has its ends frayed out and soldered as at 53 to firmly secure the cable 31 in place. The other end of the cable 31 extends through the apertured cap member 5| and through a washer 54 disposed in the housing 48, the end thereof also being frayed and soldered as at 55 to lock the cable in place. A coil spring 56 is disposed about the cable 31 within the housing 48, with one end engaging the inner surface of the cap member 5I and its opposite end engaging the washer 54 to normally and resiliently hold the cable under tension.

Clamps 51 and 58 are adjustably secured about the lower reach of the cable 31 at opposite sides of the latch trip control lever 36 and in spaced relation thereto, while a coil tensioning spring 59 is also disposed about the cable 31 between the clamp 51 and the adjacent end of the latch trip control lever 36 to hold the same under resilient tension.

The latch trip control lever 36 is also formed with a locking notch or seat 60 in its lower edge adapted to engage and overlie the tooth or lug 35 in said control rod guide 33 when the latch finger 29 is locked over the catch 30 to lock the scoop 2| in fixed position. A lug 6| is formed on the lever 36 adjacent the notch or seat 60, and serves to re-seat and lock the seat over the tooth or lug 35 and the latch finger 29 over the 39, being manually disengageable therefrom when it is desired to dump the scoop 2 I.

From the foregoing description, it willbe seen that'the mode of operation of the improved leveling, latching and tripping device for the tractor supported and operated scoop will be as follows:

.Assuming that thecontrol lever with its lockingv dog 64 is inposition to have said dog engaged in one of the notches 4| in the leveling drum, and that the latch member 29 is engaged over the catch 36 on the scoop catch or locking arm 22, thus holding the scoop in horizontal position, as seen in Figure 1 of the drawings, said scoop being in contact with the ground. The operator of the tractor and scoop will connect the power take-off mechanism so that the operating arms I'I will be forced downwardly, imparting motion throughthe arms I6 *to the lower end of the bell crank scoop supporting arms I3. Said arms I3 being pivoted upon the cross head I2 will thenraise the forward end of said arms with the scoop 2| supported therebetween. However, when the said arms I3 are raised, the cable 31 on the upper reach will be slackened and th e cable 31 on the lower reach will be tightened tifmaintain the scoop level as it is raised.

As the scoop supporting arms I3 move upwardly with the scoop, the rearward movement of the lower reach of the cable 31 will draw the control rod 36 rearwardly imparting a rearward be pushed forwardly thereby disengaging the dog 64 from the notch 4| in the leveling drum 39, allowing the scoop 2| which is balanced to tip forwardly, thereby dumping its load. In dumping the load, the leveling drum 39 will be ro-. tated forwardly as it is drawn by the upper reach of the cable 31, since the forward drum '38 is secured to the scoop 2| and supports the forward end of the said cable 31.

To return the scoop 2| and its associated mechanism to loading position, the scoop supporting arms I3 are lowered allowing the tip of the scoop 2I to touch the ground as the tractor I is backed away from the dumping point, thus permitting the scoop 2| to settle to a n approximately level position with the cable 31 moving the control rod 36 which has been contacted or engaged by the clamp 57 to cause the locking latch 29 to again lock over the catch 30, thus locking the scoop 2| in position.

While the preferred embodiment of the instant invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that it is not in- 1. In combination with a tractor, spaced par-' allel bell crank arms pivoted thereto, a scoop pivotally supported between the forward ends of said arms pulleys supported for movement with said arms and scoop, an operating cable disposed about said pulleys, a latch for said scoop, a

means in said housing for resiliently adjusting the tension of the cable.

3. In combination with a tractor, spaced parallel bell crank arms pivoted thereto, a scoop pivotaliy supported between the forward ends of said arms, pulleys supported for movement with said arms and scoop, an operating cable disposed about said pulleys, a cross brace between said arms, a shaft rotatably mounted on said cross brace, a latch on said shaft, a cooperating latch on said scoop, and means for releasing said latch associated with said cable including a control rod guide on said shaft, a control rod operatively connected between said control rod guide and said cable for tripping said scoop to dump the same, a leveling drum secured to one ofsaid pulleys being formed with a plurality of peripheral locking notches, and an operating lever having a pivoted dog thereon engageable with said locking notches for holding said leveling drum stationary to cause the cable to hold said scoop level as it is raised by said bell crank arms. I 4. The subject matter as claimed in claim 3, a leveling drum secured to one of said pulleys being formed with a plurality of peripheral looking notches, an operating lever having a pivoted dog thereon engageable with said locking notches for holding said leveling drum stationary to cause "the cable to hold said scoop level as it is raised by said bell crank arms for raising and lowering the same.

5. The subject matter as claimed in claim 3, a leveling drum secured to one of said pulleys being formed with a plurality of peripheral locking notches, an operating lever having a pivoted dog thereon engageable with said locking notches for holding said leveling drum stationary to cause the cable to hold said scoop level as it is raised by said bell crank arms, a power takeoff connection from said tractor secured to said bell crank arms for raising and lowering the same, and a resilient cable take-up mechanism disposed in said operating cable.

6. The subject matter as claimed in claim 3, said control rod being formed with a locking seat and receiving lug adapted to positively engage said control rod guide for holding said scoop level when said control rod is'released by the longitudinal movement of said cable as said bell crank arms and scoop are elevated.

EDWARD H. LACEY.

REFERENCES error) The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

v UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

